While water that moves slowly through clay during a single heavy storm is unlikely to have an adverse effect on a building, ongoing wet weather can accelerate the movement of water through the clay which is more likely to create drainage issues. These extended periods of rain cause the clay beneath the ground’s surface to become oversaturated and therefore too fluid and weak to provide consistent support to the building’s footings.

In addition to residential homes, it is not uncommon after periods of heavy rain for commercial warehouses and transport yards to notice concrete slab movement when the ground begins to dry out.

To prevent damage to a building, it is important to consider the relationship between weather events and climate change, being aware of the current conditions and paying closer attention to general home maintenance.

However, it is essential to first identify the cause of the damage. A broken pipe or a blocked drainage system will require the appropriate tradesperson to fix the leaking prior to addressing the underlying weak foundation ground.

After assessing the extent of the problem and determining the area to be treated, Mainmark’s Teretek® resin injection technology can be applied to help re-level and re-support structures impacted by subsidence. When injected into the affected ground, the solution also increases ground bearing capacity and fills voids at a fraction of the cost and without the disruption of traditional underpinning.

With the impact of climate change increasingly noticeable in the region, property owners will need to be more vigilant about ground movement and know how to identify the signs of subsidence early to ensure professionals such as Mainmark are able to remediate the issue before the damage becomes too severe and too costly to address.